QED MD - XML Enablement - Notes on Style Sheets

For any XML Data Group a style sheet (XSL) may be produced. This can be done every time the XML file is produced but it is unlikely that you would want to create a style sheet file each time you create the XML data file so the style sheet may be produced once by running the 'QED Mapping 'QEDX_SCHEMA_STYLE'. Use the XML group parameter to select the Data Group the style sheet is required for.

The generated style sheet is based on the details entered in the XML Data Group. Tags and structure are built from the Data Group. If no style sheet details are entered in the Data Group a basic style sheet will be produced that will display the XML in a structured fashion.

Data is shown as an indent list, with the XML tag being use to identify blocks and fields E.G.

<Order>

<F1>Field</f1>

</Header>

<Line>

<F2>Field</F2>

</Line>

<Line>

<F2>Field</F2>

</Line

<F3>Field</f3>

</Footer>

</Order>

Is shown as

Order:

Header:

F1:Field

Line:

F2:Field

Line:

F2:Field

Footer:

F3:Field

A better style sheet may be produced by:

Entering a style sheet names for blocks / fields on the MSXD / MSXF screens. These names will then be used in the style sheet instead of the XML tags name
QED Effects may be applied to any style sheet name / style sheet data (fields titled Block Effects, Style Sheet Line(Name & Data) Effects or Style Group Effect). With QED effects you may set colour / font / size / position / etc of the text. The name effect is only applied to the name the data effect applies to name and data attached to a Data Group block field. Think of this as wrapping a formatting effect around the output text
The group option 'EFF_IND=nn' may be used to set size of each indent used in the style sheet
The block level option EFF_TAB can be used to indicate that the fields for this block should appear in a table

To use QED effects an effect group needs to be entered on the Data Group amend screen MSXD. The standard one for XML is INTERFACING_XML, this effects group contains many pre-defined effects just prompt on the effect field to see a list of available effects. QED Effects can be use in a simple fashion to add a little colour, set a font / size etc but keep the standard structure of the output by applying the simple effects to the field / block you wish to change and set the style group effect on MSXD if a tag exist at the group level or on the Block effect (in MSXF) for the first block in the structure if there is no group level tag, to create a indenting structure with a more complex effect that is applied to structural elements from here down. (for example the DEFAULT_DATA_GROUP effect within the 'INTERFACING_XML effect group). Alternatively you may take complete control of the style sheet defining by hand where each item is placed. The shipped Data Groups SL_DUNNING_QSP / SL_STATEMENT_QSP give examples of this approach. SL_DUNNING_QSP uses a table to display the 'LINE_DETAIL' Data Block.